Title

Author

Year

1994

Degree Name

Doctor of Creative Arts

Department

University of Wollongong. Faculty of Creative Arts

Recommended Citation

Stone, Ken, Billy Pogo's fire: a creative arts project in drama, poetry and visual arts on the theme of an aboriginal wiringin or clever man, Doctor of Creative Arts thesis, University of Wollongong. Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Wollongong, 1994. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/917

Abstract

This thesis researches and then creatively explores the life of a Wiradjuri Wiringin the fictitious western N.S.W. goldmining town of Bindari.

The poetry sequence, WHUNGIN: BROTHER OF FIRE, covers the period 1889- 1908 and deals mainly with Billy Pogo's contact with the mining community, and events leading to his tragic death at the mine edge.

The graphic works have derived mainly from ideas generated in the sequence, and in some cases have provided stimulus for further poetry. As much as possible, I have attempted to cross reference common ideas and feelings into each of the three creative disciplines.

The stage play is set in contemporary Bindari. The existence of Billy Pogo's skull the local hotel, and the proposed reopening of the mine on land deemed sacred by the Aborigines, generates dramatic conflict.

Volume Two includes background research on place, people, and the Wiringin phenomenon, as well as documentation of the creative development of work within each discipline.

In the graphics section I closely examine the archival photograph which inspired creative program, and as a non-Aboriginal I attempt to state my views on the appropriation of Aboriginal material. My awareness of this contentious issue prompted me to offer the work in progress to Aboriginal scrutiny and comment wherever possible.